DAR ES SALAAM: THE authorities has recommended the partnership between the CRDB Bank Foundation and the University of Dar es Salaam for its function in empowering students and advancing innovation-driven entrepreneurship throughout the nation.
Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda, described the collaboration yesterday through the launch of the IMBEJU– UDSM Startup Challenge 2026, as a mannequin for bridging the hole between educational information and real-world utility.
“This partnership reflects the direction we want to take as a nation where universities nurture not only knowledge, but also innovation, entrepreneurship and practical skills that translate into economic value,” mentioned Prof Mkenda.
The IMBEJU–UDSM Startup Challenge is a joint initiative designed to assist college students and graduates in remodeling educational initiatives, analysis and modern concepts into viable companies.
Through the IMBEJU– UDSM Startup Challenge, over 1,000 initiatives are anticipated to be recognized and supported, marking a significant shift towards turning educational analysis into sensible options and sustainable companies.
Managing Director of CRDB Bank Foundation, TullyEsther Mwambapa highlighted the Foundation’s dedication to working intently with the federal government to drive inclusive financial transformation.
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“By providing affordable seed capital and facilitating innovation support, we are not just funding businesses, but also, we are building a strong foundation for the country’s future economy,” she mentioned.
Since its institution in 2023, CRDB Bank Foundation has empowered greater than 1.75 million girls and youth entrepreneurs and disbursed over 21bn/- to assist enterprise development throughout sectors.
The Director General of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Dr Amos Nungu, emphasised the significance of reworking analysis into enterprises.
“This initiative is a pipeline for building bankable startups grounded in science, technology and innovation. It directly addresses the longstanding gap between research and commercialisation,” he mentioned.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam Prof William Anangisye, mentioned he’s happy to see a journey that started as a dream now changing into a actuality.
“For a long time, we lacked a partner to help transform our ideas and research outputs into market-ready products, but now we have found a reliable ally, the CRDB Bank Foundation,”mentioned Prof Anangisye.